At least four people have been injured following an explosion near a U.S. military air base in Japan.
Local and defense ministry officials said that four Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (SFD) members suffered slight injuries following the incident at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Monday.
A U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft at Kadena air force base in Okinawa on May 15, 2017.
A U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft at Kadena air force base in Okinawa on May 15, 2017.
Getty Images
Officials said the explosion took place during bomb disposal operations. Newsweek has contacted the SFD for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Okinawa hosts most of the U.S.’ military facilities in Japan. Japanese media reported that the country’s 101st Unexploded Ordnance Disposal Unit at the Kadena site has disposed of more than 1,890 tons without any accidents so far.
What To Know
A team from a explosives disposal unit in the 15th Brigade of the SFD was at the facility on the grounds of a U.S. military base in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture.
The unit is responsible for the disposal of unexploded ordnance dropped on the island during World War II, and had previously disposed of more than 1,890 tons and over 40,000 cases without incident.
During World War II, the U.S. military dropped about 200,000 tons of ammunition, around 10,000 tons of which remains unexploded, according to the newspaper Sankei.
Imagery captured by a commercial airplane on March 10, 2025, shows Kadena Air Base on Japan’s southwestern Okinawa island.
Imagery captured by a commercial airplane on March 10, 2025, shows Kadena Air Base on Japan’s southwestern Okinawa island.
Airbus/Google Earth
Japanese news outlet NHK said that unexploded ordnance blew up at around 11:20 a.m. Monday [10:20 p.m. ET Sunday] local time after a shell exploded while it was being examined for rust.
Emergency services attending the scene said that four Japanese personnel suffered injuries which included finger lacerations and possible hearing damage, but none were life threatening.
NHK said its helicopters captured footage of the ammunition depot area at around 1 p.m. where personnel had gathered around a tent next to a vehicle that deals with unexploded ordnance.
Unexploded ordnance from the Battle of Okinawa 80 years ago is found daily and collected by the disposal team and taken to a temporary storage facility in Yomitan Village to assess further risk.
In reporting Monday’s incident, Japanese media noted how the SDF had been established after a modified land mine exploded next to a kindergarten in Naha City, in March 1974, killing four people and injuring 34.
What People Are Saying
Japanese outlet NHK: “Unexploded ordnance exploded at a facility on the grounds of a U.S. military base in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture, injuring four members of the Self-Defense Forces.”
What Happens Now
Local officials are investigating the incident, according to Japanese media which reported that of the 1,800 tons of unexploded ordnance still buried, 500 tons are in locations that are hard to access under the sea or in the mountains which will take years to dispose of.
Update 6/9/25, 4 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.
AloJapan.com